Canadians.. any know were to book online through?

[shawn&steph]

I am from Ottawa, Ontario Canada area and we are looking to book in Feb...does anyone know who to book through? who has great deals?

[Jeff & Beth]

Originally Posted by shawn&steph

I am from Ottawa, Ontario Canada area and we are looking to book in Feb...does anyone know who to book through? who has great deals?

In Canada, most of the vacations to AI resorts are sold by "tour companies" like Nolitours, Signature Vacations, Sunquest, etc. These companies bundle together the flight, hotel, and transfers into one package. From my experience I rarely find the prices different no matter where I look. All travel agencies sell the same packages from the same tour companies, and so the pricing is almost always the same. For Canadians, booking a flight (i.e. through Air Canada) and then booking the hotel separate (direct with Temptations or through Alpharooms.com, etc.) is rarely cheaper unless you find a killer flight deal or can fly on points.

So, you'll find everyone has their preferred agency but in reality the pricing is likely the same at all, as long as you are looking at the exact same dates, with the exact same room class, with the exact same tour company (i.e. signature) at the exact same time.

All that said, I usually use itravel2000.com as my agency of choice, but feel free to shop around at any agency like expedia, marlin travel, flight network, etc. You never know.

[sandyg]

Originally Posted by shawn&steph

I am from Ottawa, Ontario Canada area and we are looking to book in Feb...does anyone know who to book through? who has great deals?

Hi there...Sunwing has a no tax sale but i think it ends today

[Sam&LeeAnn]

We are in Ottawa as well, we booked through Nolitours via a travel agent. It was the same price as online. We had to book a couple of months ago as they sell out pretty quick

[thekidd77]

this year we booked eveything on a sunwing package and that was the cheapest we could get, all the sites are the same but you may be able to find the same trip with say price protection or $40 cashback if you check the different sites, but really not much of a difference

you also can check what the tour companies price is on just the charter flight, last year I saved a few hundred booking the air transat flight and the room thru alpharooms, this year though the flight portion was so high you couldnt beat the package,

air miles and alpharooms would be the absolute cheapest option if you had enough miles

[Canadian Dos Equis fan]

Other ones I have used...

Sunwing.ca
redtag.ca
expedia.ca

Pretty much all of them have similar prices. Another option is to try bing.com/travel A friend of mine and myself booked our flights using that as a search earlier this week. The vast majority of the results are off of American sites but sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough. Our flight on westjet we found on Orbitz.com which we couldn't even duplicate on the westjet.com site.

[B & B]

Normally I use Itravel2000 as well, looking at this year, they are more expensive (we are considering Cabos) than AirCanadaVacations. If I go to RedTag.Ca, they give me a few options and one matches the AirCanadaVacations and in fact it is identical, excpet they advertise price protection which AirCanadaVacations direct does not.

As someone mentioned earlier, they are all pretty well the same, so you have to look at the extra's to make your decision. Lower taxes, price protection, I remember the other year someone was offering a laptop or something. Itravel has a fall promotion where your trip is free if it snows 5" on New Years Day (has only ahppened once in last five years), but anyway, go after the gimmicks because the prices are pretty close.

[Fxycpl]

We booked through Nolitours, but their online system was broken for Temptations. We ended up calling because the site thought one or more of us were under 21.. It was a long wait ion hold but it's gonna be worth it!

[craigandginny]

We've booked a few times each with Expedia.ca and with Sunwing as well. Not sure if I'm being factual but it seems that you are "sardines in a can" with the Sunwing flights, they really pack you in nice and snug! Our Expedia booked trips we have been able to fly with WestJet which we personally prefer.

[canucks23]

We usually use itravel2000.com

[Donald]

I usually use CAA travel or Flight Center ca, but this year I saved $600 using Orbitz.com

Orbitz is U.S. so is not covered by TICCO but using your credit card will cover you.

I like to use the ''build your own trip tool'' and usually get 10 nights for the same price as 7 when using charter flights. Sometime you don't get a direct flights but small price to get 3 extra days.Friday departures with Monday returns give good prices, and you get 2 whole weekends
You can adjust flights and durations on most web sites.
Good Luck

[isittimeyet]

We have booked through the resort the last few years and it was great...we would get 10 days for about 1100 tax in...flight and hotel...doing the same this year!!

[Kirby/Gina]

We used selloffvacations.com seemed to be the best deal for us. I did the flights and hotel seperate too as we wanted to be in mexico for two weeks but only spend one at an AI.

[RobandDiana]

With us being stuck on an island (ok not really stuck but wanting to fly direct from Victoria), we use a travel agent (Flight Centre) and this year our flight is with Nolitours. They fly Canjet which is awesome. We pay extra for Canjet Select and get priority boarding, seat selection, priority baggage and free drinks on the way down.

As easy as online seems to be I really do prefer being able to talk to a human and over the past 8 years we've developed a relationship with the people at our Flight Centre so we always use them to book these types of trips.

D

[JenandTodd]

Originally Posted by Fxycpl

We booked through Nolitours, but their online system was broken for Temptations. We ended up calling because the site thought one or more of us were under 21.. It was a long wait ion hold but it's gonna be worth it!

We just booked today with Nolitours and had the exact same problem!

[tonton]

Last year expedia was ceaper, this year travelocity is a few hundred cheaper per person.

[bobby slack]

cheaptickets.com used them 3 times from vancouver----way cheaper than--canadian tour companies!

[gnr69er]

Try adultraval.ca it deals with adult friendly vacations

[halifaxdan]

Last year we used orbitz.com that way we could go as many days as we wanted n pick some flights we like. We paid $1300 ea tx inc for 9 nights 10days flying out of halifax. Was the best deal i ever got n like i said we got to go 9 nights instead of the standard 7. Orbitz.ca didn't give u that option or any other canadian travel place

[shawn&steph]

Thanks for all the ideas....i know what i will be doing tonight....

[Z & D]

We used Tripcentral.ca for about 1200 all in, but like everyone says in Canada most of the sites are very close in price. Would prefer Westjet as the staff and planes are better, but we are on Sunwing, maybe next year we'll do 10 days and get to choose WestJet!

One of the best things about Cancun is the flight is so short for us in Ontario, 4 hours goes by in no time, and you can catch up on your sleep on the plane to be ready for more important things...

[jeff & deb]

We used West Jet and alpharooms and figure we've save about 900 for the 14 days.

[cuppies]

we've always used itravel2000, searstravel.ca or expedia. No problems.

[RobandDiana]

The last time we flew on Westjet down the Cancun we were actually cut off. LOL. We felt like reminding them that A-we are on vacation and B it's not like we're going to be driving once we get there. LOL

D

[jeff & deb]

Originally Posted by RobandDiana

The last time we flew on Westjet down the Cancun we were actually cut off. LOL. We felt like reminding them that A-we are on vacation and B it's not like we're going to be driving once we get there. LOL

D

Why doesn't this surprise me....LOL
Speaking of being cut off, we've noticed that west jet doesn't feed you and their drinks are like 6.50 ea. Now I've been wondering why can't you take your own 50ml bottles and just order pop and mix your own drinks, I've checked what you can take in your carry on and there is nothing saying that you can't as long as its under 100ml.. so we should be able to take a few each, thats my understanding anyways, anyone else have info on this.

[Canadian Dos Equis fan]

Originally Posted by jeff & deb

Why doesn't this surprise me....LOL
Speaking of being cut off, we've noticed that west jet doesn't feed you and their drinks are like 6.50 ea. Now I've been wondering why can't you take your own 50ml bottles and just order pop and mix your own drinks, I've checked what you can take in your carry on and there is nothing saying that you can't as long as its under 100ml.. so we should be able to take a few each, thats my understanding anyways, anyone else have info on this.

I think they don't allow it, probably the same reasoning that is used in bars etc. By having to buy it on the plane they get to have control and tell you that you are drunk etc. or not giving it to kids. It may suck but I do understand that line of logic. Just earmark $50 for the trip down and you should be well on your way by the time you land lol!

[jeff & deb]

Originally Posted by Canadian Dos Equis fan

I think they don't allow it, probably the same reasoning that is used in bars etc. By having to buy it on the plane they get to have control and tell you that you are drunk etc. or not giving it to kids. It may suck but I do understand that line of logic. Just earmark $50 for the trip down and you should be well on your way by the time you land lol!

Hi, I agree with what your saying and the logic however...

Alcohol in carry-on baggage is subject to the liquid restrictions. Duty-free alcohol purchased after the security screening checkpoint can be brought in carry-on baggage, but may not be permitted if connecting to another flight, even if they are in security tamper-evident bags (STEBs).
Exceptions: As of June 1, 2011, duty-free purchases from any of the European Union nations packaged in a security tamper-evident bag will be accepted for screening at the following airports: Toronto-Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Halifax. Please see Duty-free purchases more information.

Passengers may transport bottles of alcohol in their checked baggage if:

• The percentage of alcohol by volume is 70 per cent (140 proof) or less
• For alcoholic beverages, between 24% and 70% alcohol by volume, the quantity does not exceed 5 litres per person.

Note: alcoholic beverages containing 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations on quantities.
Containers of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry-on must be 100 ml/100 grams (3.4 oz) or less.
All containers must fit in 1 clear, closed, resealable plastic bag no more than 1 litre (1 quart) in capacity. The approximate dimensions of a one litre/quart bag are 15.24 cm by 22.86 cm (6 in. by 9 in.) or 20 cm by 17.5 cm (8 in. by 7 in.).
At the screening point, take your plastic bag out of your carry-on and place it in one of the provided trays.
Drink or discard any beverages in containers over 100 ml before pre-board security screening.
Any containers over 100 ml should be placed in checked baggage.

[Executive1]

Last time we wnt to Cancun, we bought a bottle of rum at the duty free store before we boarded. Then we bought some mix at the gift shop. Onve we boarded they gave us our rum1! Cest la vie!!

[glenn/monique]

Originally Posted by JenandTodd

We just booked today with Nolitours and had the exact same problem!

WE FOUND THIS OUT LAST YEAR. IT IS A FLAW IN THERE SYSTEM AS TTR REQUIRES 25 AND OVER. SO YOU HAVE TO CALL, THUS PEOPLE DONT AND BAM! SEAT SALE PAID $900 ALL IN LAST MAY ONLY FOUND THE DEAL ON NOILTOURS SITE SELLOFF WAS $1475 look around!!!!!!

[Kimmiey]

So Ive been three times in the past 7 months, booked with different tours each time. First was direct with TTR, second with Nolitours, last which I just got back was with Sunwing. All started out pretty much the same price for on average same amount of time (TTR was best when we went for two weeks).
Lets just say, I will NEVER EVER fly with Sunwing again. They even weighed the purses which were carried on. I was charged $140 for overweight just on the way down! and they make you empty your carry on to UNDER 5kg, which if you have your laptop and other expensive stuff goes very quickly. They also took my boarding pass and refused to give it to me until I paid (also, I was pissed and argued because we paid for the two of us to fly, but then Rich met me down there on a seperate airline all together)
I smuggled a bag on the way back, left it with someone until I was checked in, then threw it back into my almost empty carry on bag which was only 4kgs. So I got away with $60 on the way home. Sorry about rant, but i was slightly ticked and I wouldnt want that to happen to anyone else.